[Watersheds] Public Comment Period for Draft 2024 Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan

[Zwarg, Jonathan (DEM)]

To Municipal/Government Officials, Stakeholders, and Interested Parties:

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is releasing public notice and accepting public feedback on the Draft 2024 Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan<https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2024-07/npsmanplan-d.pdf>.

Public comments will be accepted until Monday August 26th, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. and can be directed to Sean McCormick at sean.mccormick at dem.ri.gov<mailto:sean.mccormick at dem.ri.gov?subject=Re:%20Draft%202024%20Nonpoint%20Source%20Management%20Program%20Plan> or via mail to Sean McCormick, DEM Office of Water Resources, 235 Promenade Street, Room 200, Providence, RI 02908.

The DEM Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program<https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/research-monitoring/water-quality-resources/nonpoint-source-pollution> focuses on the types of pollution sources that cannot be tracked to a single pipe or discharge point, such as overland stormwater runoff and failing septic systems.  Available monitoring data reveal nonpoint source pollution as a widespread problem impacting every watershed in the State of Rhode Island.  The NPS Program uses the watershed approach to focus on managing nonpoint pollution problems. The DEM NPS Program activities are guided by the RI Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan as well as federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements governing Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 funds. In accordance with federal NPS guidelines<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.epa.gov/nps/319-grant-current-guidance__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!P0byWrX8o9zGaMxALMQspLrAbopU1BsHdS2GRrH_xGYjUaJoiWy3UGeQ3bgbeV16Dho9cK2wlgikHe-zy7c8qMk7JVGcqsvWth6Q$ [epa[.]gov]>, only those projects that are in watersheds which have a Watershed Plan that meets the required elements in the federal guidelines and which implement recommendations in the Plan are considered eligible for funding with Section 319 grant funds.

The Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan is the guiding document for the priorities and objectives of DEM's NPS Program.  Under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, the plan is required to be updated every five years.  The plan will be used to guide and foster coordination and integration between governmental programs and non-governmental partners engaged in NPS program activities in Rhode Island.  The 2024 update incorporates expansion of efforts to plan for and respond to impacts of a changing climate and addressing environmental justice.  The plan identifies five major sources of NPS pollution as priorities for the next five years: stormwater runoff; on-site wastewater discharges; hydromodification and habitat alteration; agriculture; and trash, litter, and plastics.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street | Suite 200 | Providence, RI 02908


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Sean McCormick, MESM (he/him)
Environmental Scientist III
Office of Water Resources
Tel: (401) 537-4254

Email: sean.mccormick at dem.ri.gov<mailto:Maria.Costa at dem.ri.gov>
DEM website: http://WWW.DEM.RI.GOV<http://www.dem.ri.gov/>





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